Stage Buzz
The Gates Of Slumber preview
The Gates Of Slumber Metal Shaker, Chicago Friday, December 5, 2008 Apparently, we can’t deal with high expectations at Illinois Entertainer, because that’s exactly what we had for The Gates Of Slumber’s newest album, Conqueror, and either it failed us or we failed it.
Q-Tip preview
Q-Tip, 2K Sports Bounce Tour House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, December 6, 2008 Some critics are trying to equate the timing of Q-Tip’s long-awaited sophomore album to the first time we met him, as a member of A Tribe Called Quest, as if he’s here to save hip-hop again. The Renaissance (Universal Motown) is pretty […]
Harry Connick, Jr.’s coming to town
Harry Connick, Jr. Chicago Theatre, Chicago December 10 & 11, 2008 What better way to slip into the holiday mood than four original tracks sprinkled among a 15-song collection and German football superstar Michael Ballack on the cover?
Jeremy Enigk & Alex Chilton previewed
Jeremy Enigk | Alex Chilton Bottom Lounge | Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Wednesday, December 3 | Saturday, December 6, 2008 Jeremy Enigk hasn’t willed himself into obscurity quite the way Alex Chilton has, but as the former frontman of a beloved, obsessed-upon cult band his legend far outstrips his draw.
Terry Reid preview
Terry Reid Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, November 21, 2008 Word on the street is Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham are trying to force Robert Plant’s hand (Plant said he has no intentions of participating in a full-fledged Led Zeppelin reunion tour) by holding rehearsals with Myles Kennedy, lead singer of Alter Bridge […]
Lordi preview
Lordi House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, November 22, 2008 Let us tell you how much cooler Finland is than the United States (notice I said “cooler,” not tougher, or more patriotic, or more armed or anything — so please no “Love it or leave it” e-mails”): Here, we mock, or in the least, dismiss costumed/masked […]
Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival preview
Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Congress Theatre, Chicago Saturday, November 22, 2008 The 2008 Bluegrass & Blues Festival is neither bluegrass nor blues: discuss. Subtopic, the Saving Tiny Hearts Society benefits either way.
The Rosebuds preview
The Rosebuds Bottom Lounge, Chicago Thursday, November 13, 2008 For a band who’ve chosen such an iconic name in American arts, The Rosebuds seem to practice an ad hoc self-iconoclasmtreating the styles on past albums like used tissues.
Iced Earth, Early Man preview
Iced Earth, Early Man Metro, Chicago Friday, November 14, 2008 You’ll notice five guys in the above Iced Earth picture — resembling, to most, a band. But consider this: Since 1991 (the group officially formed in the mid’80s) Iced Earth has released 10 albums . . . and had more than 20 members! That’s not […]
Totally Michael preview
Totally Michael Abbey Pub, Chicago Sunday, November 16, 2008 Technological advances in the last half decade have drastically changed the music industry. Some for the better (musicians with little-to-no budget can record at home instead of burning money in big-dollar studios); some for the worse (Totally Michael — one guy from Bloomington, Indiana — can […]
The Academy Is preview
The Academy Is House Of Blues, Chicago Thursday, November 6, 2008 Friday, November 7, 2008 Both Rolling Stone and Spin hammered The Academy Is’ second album, Santi, but so what? Fans still grabbed copies, Atlantic Records didn’t give Fueled By Ramen/Decaydence any ultimatums, and the Hoffman Estates-based band felt confident enough to book two House […]
My Brightest Diamond preview
My Brightest Diamond Schubas, Chicago Friday, November 7, 2008 Led Zeppelin’s burning yen to hit the road without Robert Plant (and with some choda from Alter Bridge) has given us something similar to the DTs: shaking, nausea, gas, seething intolerance for blatant stupidity. However, if Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones absolutely must go all […]
Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne Pearl Room, Mokena Saturday, November 8, 2008 Skits, guest appearances, and bloated songs counts are as common to hip-hop as blast beats are to black metal, but Tech N9ne takes things to a whole new level on Killer.
Grails preview
Grails Empty Bottle, Chicago Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Grails’ Doomsdayer’s Holiday cover art has boobies on it. Naked boobies. This would be cooler if the woman with said boobies wasn’t riding one of those convenient-store mechanical animals (an elephant, as far as we can tell), in the middle of a forest, wearing some sort of […]
King Khan & The BBQ Show preview
King Khan & The BBQ Show Bottom Lounge, Chicago Friday, October 31, 2008 Who knows why it happens, but every few years a simple garage rock band captures the (indie) zeitgeist, begging us not to retreat to our flaccid existences.
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